Legault closed his eyes, putting his arms behind his head and leaning against a tree. Lord Eliwood hadn't given him orders. He had said to capture Jaffar, but he hadn't said what to do after. So, really, by loafing around and doing nothing he wasn't disobeying Eliwood's orders. Legault smiled to himself.

But suddenly Legault heard a scream. He sat bolt upright, leaping to his feet from where he lay on the grass. That scream. Damn. He had known this would happen.

Legault sighed and shook his head, his lips still curved in his casual smile. He had known it would have happened eventually. He had never guessed that it would have happened so quickly. He had to give the man credit. The Angel of Death had escaped.

Legault had always admired Jaffar's Fang name. The Angel of Death. Nothing like the Hurricane. A hurricane, destructive and careless. Legault curled his lip in distaste. What kind of name for a silent and swift thief was "Hurricane"? But "Angel of Death". That was a name to be proud of. Swift, unseen, killing everything it touches.

But now was not time to complain over nicknames. He had to capture the Angel of Death before he killed anyone else. Who knew how many of the pegasus knights had already been slaughtered.

Legault ran through the trees, following the sound of the scream. He doubted that the Angel of Death would still be there, but he would find him eventually. Just follow the bloodshed.

There is no sound as I run through the trees. Nothing at all. Not the sound of my footfall, not the sound of the leaves rustling as I pass, not the sound of anyone following me. But that does not mean no one is.

My grip on my daggers do not loosen. I am tense, alert. Are the knights overhead, ready to dive? Is there a group of knights ahead waiting for me to run into a trap? Or worse yet, am I running in the wrong direction and am heading straight for Eliwood himself? During the fight I had lost my sense of direction and, with no landmarks to point me the right way, I had become hopelessly lost.

Finally I stop. There is no point in running aimlessly, not knowing where I am going. I have to find out. I start to climb one of the trees, but hesitate. If the pegasus knights haven't spotted me already, then climbing the tree would put me in plain view. But if I kept running in the direction I had been, I could be going in the same way I had come and would run out into the open right into the middle of Eliwood's army.

I decide that I have to take the chance of being seen. A few pegasus knights I can handle. An entire army I can't.

I climb the tree easily, using the same method I had used before. Once I have reached the higher branches it is easier so I can climb normally. I move slowly, keeping the branches from moving so my presence is not seen. I peer through the leaves, looking for anything that can help me. For a few moments I don't see anything, only more trees. I look all around me until finally I see the village from before. So that was the way I had come. I had been heading in the wrong direction after all. I beat myself mentally. What would have happened if I had not stopped to see where I was? Would I have run right into Eliwood's army? Knowing my luck, probably.

I turn in the opposite direction and nod to myself. That is where I am supposed to go. Where that is I am not sure yet. But it is away from Eliwood, and that is all that matters.

Leaping from the branch I fall to the ground, dropping low as soon as I hit the ground. I am still for a long time, not making a sound, making sure no one had heard the sound made by my fall. Even though it was slight, I cannot be too careful.

Finally I straighten. I glance around the woods but see no one. But I have only taken a few steps when I stop. There is someone here. I may not be able to see him, but I feel him.

I whirl around, my daggers in my hands, ready to attack. Everything is still. No one in sight.

"…Come out, Hurricane. I know you're here," I say, not relaxing in the slightest. He's still there. I know it.

Finally, a figure falls from the trees. He straightens, taking a cocky yet threatening pose. Only the Hurricane can pull that off.

"So, mighty Angel of Death. It seems you escaped the pegasus knights. Not a great feat for you I presume, eh?"

"…"

Hurricane shakes his head slightly. "It's true... No point in talking to you, is there? It's just like your friend Sonia said: you truly are soulless."

I stare at him, unspeaking. What is he talking to me for? There isn't another trap behind me, is there? I tense, keeping completely still. But I do not feel anything around save for Hurricane.

"You know me. You know my strength. You know how I fight. What are you going to do? You know if you can kill me or not. But will you?"

"…I will kill you if you get in my way, Hurricane," I say, staring at him hard. "I will not hesitate to do so."

Hurricane sighs, a smile still on his face. "I know this, Angel of Death. And I know that I probably will not win. But first think. Do you really want to fight for Nergal for the rest of your life? Do you want to kill people for him when you do not even believe in his cause?"

"Who says I do not believe in his cause?"

"You do not believe in any cause. You do not believe in anything. You feel nothing." Hurricane's eyes look away, thoughtful. "There were countless corpses stacked one on top of the other... And there, atop the bodies, they found a lone infant sleeping... You. You are death incarnate. You feel nothing, fear nothing, desire nothing... You kill. Nothing more."

Why does he talk about me this way? He does not know me.

Hurricane looks up. "Ah. I have angered you? Are you going to kill me now out of hatred?" Then he laughs to himself. "Oh yes. I forgot. You do not hate. So I should be fine then, eh?"

I take a step forwards. I do not want to hear him talk anymore. If he is smart he will run now to save his life. But he doesn't. He just laughs sadly.

"I knew it would come to this eventually," he says, almost to himself. "So you will kill me then?"

"…"

Hurricane nods. "But I will not go down without a fight."

I had expected as much. A Black Fang assassin does not surrender. They go down fighting.

We are still for a long moment, staring at each other, as if trying to read each other's minds. Waiting for the other to attack. But finally, it is Hurricane who moves first.

Hurricane leaps forwards in an attack. I feel slight satisfaction. This fight is over already. I wait until he is only feet before me, then move. With a swift motion I leap forwards, almost seeming to disappear. Then I am behind him, slashing at him with my daggers. But the Hurricane seems to have known this would happen.

Almost as swiftly as I had, he drops to the ground and rolls underneath me, leaping to his feet once he is behind me and slashing at my neck. I duck underneath his thrust and drive my dagger for his heart while he is still in the middle of the strike, unable to defend himself. But Hurricane is too quick.

With his weight leaning forwards it is impossible for him to leap back. Most people would still try to lean backwards and find themselves dead in an instant. But Hurricane is smarter.

Thinking fast he figures that the quickest way to move is forward. So he promptly puts his hands on my shoulders and leaps over me and over my attack, also giving him the advantage. While by back is turned and my attack keeping me briefly off balance he attacks. I fall to the ground to avoid his blow. But while his arm is above me in the attack I leap to my feet, catching his arm in mid-blow. Then I throw him over my shoulder and onto the ground. I leap forwards, pressing my knee against the assassin's chest and my hand around his throat to make sure he does not get back up.

For a long moment we are still, staring at each other and panting slightly. The fight had seemed long but I realize that it had taken less than a minute. Finally, Hurricane grins.

"So I guess you beat me, huh? I knew it would end this way."

"…"

Hurricane gives me a knowing glance. "But you hesitate?"

I tighten my grip on his throat and he gives a weak laugh, amused by my reaction.

But I'm confused. Why am I hesitating? It had happened before with Heath as well…. Killing used to be as quick as thinking. Why not now? What has changed?

A long minute passes. I stare hard into Hurricane's face and he stares at mine. We hardly seem to breath. Hurricane's difficulty breathing might be from my knee on his chest but mine is from confusion. Why can't I kill him?

Finally I move, but not how I had expected. I thought the motion would be my dagger slitting his throat. But instead I see myself standing, letting Hurricane go.

Hurricane looks at me with amazement. Even I am slightly amazed. But I do not say anything. I look at him for a moment, then turn on my heel and walk away into the forest. Hurricane does not follow.